New Delhi is watching the insurgency next door for signs of it spilling into its own 'red corridor'
A frightening scenario is doing the rounds in New Delhi security circles: Nepal's Maoist guerillas overthrow the monarchy and join India's Maoists to destabilise a swathe of India from northeast to south.
Activity by Maoist revolutionaries - or Naxalites - throughout the area has led to it being dubbed the 'red corridor'.
If such a scenario is being entertained at all, the reason is twofold: Nepal's Maoists are now seen as formidable, and India's Naxalites are gaining ground.
According to Indian intelligence, Maoist activity spread from 156 districts in 13 states last September to 170 districts in 15 states last month.
For 40 years, communist groups have been active in the area. In some districts they run a parallel administration, operate 'people's courts' and even levy taxes.